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Kayt Sukel reports that cognitive skills decline after the age of 45 ( 26 January, p 30 ). But other skills develop: the ability to be reflective and, given an open mind, to see the bigger picture. I am still employed. My publications show I have never been more creative ever since I hit 65. …

Sukel offers lots of interesting ideas about keeping your brain in tip-top nick, but with an obvious omission. Read Â鶹´«Ã½ every week. (It had better be true.)

Debora MacKenzie reports a connection between Alzheimer's and gum disease ( 2 February, p 6 ). Have researchers studied the incidence of Alzheimer's disease in dentists and dental hygienists, exploring the assumption that they take better care of their teeth and gums?

In Australia, we have a national health scheme (NHS) that functions tolerably, but excludes most diseases of the mouth, teeth and gums. We are pretty much on our own and required to pay in full for private dental work, although private health insurance can somewhat defray the high cost. People for whom such insurance is …

People say 'new physics' but these laws have always been there – we just detect them Katie Martz waxes philosophical about the struggle to find hints for new theories in the welter of data at CERN ( 16 February, p 36 )

Valerie Jamieson asks why there are so few women in physics ( 10 November 2018, p 32 ). Parents are a child's first educators and role models. I wonder whether we underestimate the part that fathers play in their daughters' choice of careers, and their view on sexism and stereotypes. When our daughter, who was …

The attempt by Paul Davies to answer the question of what life is was fascinating ( 2 February, p 28 ). Davies discusses the changes that may have occurred in complex chemical processes that ultimately resulted in their developing into something that was describable as life. I am interested in the opposite end of the …

You report a police force using evidence-based investigation tools ( 12 January, p 7 ). These prioritise the investigation of crimes using a solvability algorithm based on eight factors. I would be interested to know how many of those factors are "managed" or under the control of local authorities – as is, for example, the …

• Casey Lindberg now researches workplace design at HKS architects in Texas ( 12 January, p 36 ).

Richard Harris is surprised that, while one in 20 participants in a study carried the gene for either cystic fibrosis or spinal muscular atrophy, only one in 40 has a partner who also carries one (Letters, 2 February ). You note that there were just 15 such couples. If an explanation is needed, it may …